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Senate panel to vote Friday on Brett Kavanaugh after assault testimony but his fate uncertain

Senate leaders scheduled a Friday vote in the Judiciary Committee on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, following a day-long hearing in which senators heard testimony from a woman who alleges he sexually assaulted her when they were teens.

WASHINGTON – Republican leaders scheduled a Friday vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, following a day-long hearing in which senators heard testimony from a woman who alleges he sexually assaulted her when they were teens.

However, it was unclear whether Republicans had the votes to confirm the nominee after an emotional hearing where Christine Blasey Ford detailed her allegations against Kavanaugh. He has vehemently denied them.

Friday's vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. If the committee approves the nomination, it would then go to the full Senate. Kavanaugh's appointment could be approved as early as Tuesday.

“I think it’s time to vote,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters immediately after the hearing.

Whether Kavanaugh survives may depend on a handful of Republican senators. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, both supporters of abortion rights, have remained noncommittal. So has Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, a member of the judiciary panel and frequent critic of Trump. Flake is not seeking re-election.

All three went out of their way Thursday evening to avoid reporters in the halls of the Capitol. Murkowski even had a separate car pick her up on the opposite side of the building. She didn't answer shouted questions about her vote.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said he was unsure how a vote to confirm Kavanaugh would play out. “I don’t know if they have enough votes but they think it deserves a vote,” he said.

Jessica Campbell-Swanson, from Denver, sits in the lap of the Contemplation of Justice statue as activists protest on the steps of the Supreme Court after the confirmation vote of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, on Capitol Hill, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018 in Washington. Alex Brandon, AP

Capitol police detain protestors who occupied the steps of the U.S. Capitol before the Senate votes on the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in Washington, Oct. 6, 2018. ERIK S. LESSER, EPA-EFE

Activists demonstrate in the plaza of the East Front of the U.S. Capitol to protest the confirmation vote of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Capitol Hill, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018 in Washington. Alex Brandon, AP

Crowds of activists are arrested after they rushed past barriers and protested from the steps of the Capitol before the confirmation vote on President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, in Washington, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. J. Scott Applewhite, AP

Demonstrators from Washington-area law schools -- including Georgetown, George Washington, Howard, The District of Columbia and Catholic universities -- march on the U.S. Capitol East Lawn to protest against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh Oct. 06, 2018, in Washington. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Demonstrators from Washington-area law schools -- including Georgetown, George Washington, Howard, The District of Columbia and Catholic universities -- march on the U.S. Capitol East Lawn to protest against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh Oct. 06, 2018, in Washington. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

A Howard University law student waits for fellow demonstrators from Washington-area law schools -- including Georgetown, George Washington, Howard, The District of Columbia and Catholic universities -- for a rally on the U.S. Capitol East Lawn to protest against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh Oct. 06, 2018, in Washington. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

An anti Kavanaugh protester gets her face painted with the word "liar" on Capitol Hill on October 05, 2018. - The US Senate girded Friday for a critical, too- close-to-call vote on moving ahead with the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, as Republicans brushed aside complaints by Democrats that an FBI probe of sexual assault allegations against him was rushed and incomplete. JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

Protesters against US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh are arrested after blocking the office of Senator Jeff Flakes, (R-Ariz.) in Washington, DC. The US Senate on Friday approved with a 51-49 vote moving to a final vote on President Donald Trump's embattled Supreme Court pick amid continuing controversy over sexual abuse allegations against him. JOSE LUIS MAGANA/AFP/Getty Images

Comedian Amy Schumer gestures after getting detained along with hundreds of other protestors against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington. ERIK S. LESSER, EPA-EFE

Hundreds of protesters are arrested by U.S. Capitol Police for demonstrating against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Protesters chant their support for fellow demonstrators who are being arrested by U.S. Capitol Police for protesting against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Ana Maria Archila, one of the two women who confronted Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, speaks at the protest against Brett Kavanaugh in front of the United States Supreme Court, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Protesters are arrested as they sit and block the 2nd floor Dirksen Senate Office Building hallway on the same floor of the Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Brett Kavanaugh for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Friday. Jack Gruber/USA TODAY

Protesters sit and block the Dirksen Senate Office Building 2nd floor hallway on Sept. 28, 2018, protesting against the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh as an Associate Justice on the US Supreme Court. JACK GRUBER/USA TODAY

Ana Maria Archila, a survivor of a sexual assault, right, confronts Republican Senator from Arizona Jeff Flake in an elevator after Flake announced that he vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, on Friday. JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE

Ana Maria Archila, right confronted Republican Senator from Arizona Jeff Flake (in an elevator after Flake announced that he vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in the Russell Senate Office Building. Another woman, not seen said to Senator Flake 'Look at me when I'm talking to you. You are telling me that my assault doesn't matter.' JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE

Protesters march from the U.S. Capitol to the Supreme Court while Christine Blasey Ford testifies in front of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Sept. 27, 2018, in Washington. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Supporters of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh along with supporters of Christine Blasey Ford gather in the Hart Senate Office Building while Ford testifies in front of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Sept. 27, 2018 in Washington. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

A small group gathers in downtown Detroit to protest the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018. Melanie Maxwell, Detroit Free Press via USA TODAY Network

Protesters in the Hart Senate Office Building as Christine Blasey Ford testifies in front of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Sept. 27, 2018 in Washington. Ford alleges that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982, while they were both prep school students. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Protestors gather in the Hart Senate Office Building on Sept. 27, 2018 in Washington, DC, in support of Christine Blasey Ford, who is testifying against Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. AFP/Getty Images

Ford told the Senate Judiciary Committee she was "100 percent" confident Kavanaugh was the person who held her down and tried to remove her clothes at a party when they were both teens in 1982. She said the episode had haunted her for decades.

In testimony that was both fiery and at times tearful, Kavanaugh said the sexual assault allegations had harmed his family and his name. He professed his innocence and accused Democrats of "character assassination." Kavanaugh also pledged to fight for this nomination, saying: "you'll never get me to quit."

Confirmation by Kavanaugh would be an important milestone for Republicans and the president as it would tilt the balance of power on the high court to conservatives.

But Democrats have pointed to the array of accusations and lack of an FBI investigation as a reason to slow down the hearing and establish whether Kavanaugh's past should prevent him from confirmation to the nation's highest court.

Many Democrats were outraged with news a vote would move forward on Friday, less than 24 hours after hearing from Ford. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., demanded it be canceled.

"We MUST halt these proceedings not just for the integrity of #SCOTUS, but to work toward a culture where survivors of sexual violence know they will be heard, supported & respected," he wrote on twitter, adding that if an FBI investigation isn't done, Kavanaugh's nomination should be withdrawn.

President Donald Trump voiced his support for a Friday vote on Twitter, saying Kavanaugh's testimony was "powerful, honest, and riveting."

"Judge Kavanaugh showed America exactly why I nominated him," the president said. "Democrats’ search and destroy strategy is disgraceful and this process has been a total sham and effort to delay, obstruct, and resist. The Senate must vote!"

If the committee approves Kavanaugh's nomination, or if the nomination is sent to the floor without a recommendation, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could make a motion on Saturday to end debate.

Unless there is unanimous consent to waive the rules, McConnell, R-Ky., would have to wait until Monday at the earliest for a vote on that motion. The rules say at least 30 hours must pass after the procedural motion passes. That means if the motion to end debate were held early Monday, the final vote could come late in the day Tuesday.

It would require the same 51 votes for passage – or a 50-50 vote with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a tie – as the confirmation vote. The Senate is split with 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats, so Republicans can't lose more than one vote.

CLOSE

Christine Blasey Ford says she is certain she did not mistakenly identify Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as her attacker at a party when they were both in high school more than 30 years ago. (Sept. 27)
AP